The short version
AcreTrace does not require an online account for normal operation.
It does not contain advertising or analytics, and it does not send usage or diagnostic information back to AcreTrace.
Your saved surveys are not silently uploaded. If you start an official-boundary import, the SBI is sent directly to Defra for that request and never passes through an AcreTrace server.
What AcreTrace stores
Location and measurements
When you start a measurement, AcreTrace uses the device location while the relevant measurement or guidance screen is open.
A saved survey may contain:
- coordinates
- date and time information
- reported GPS/GNSS accuracy
- distances
- routes
- field boundaries
- calculated areas
Field information
You can choose to add:
- field names
- farm or holding names
- field references
- notes
- exclusions
- markers
- marker descriptions
- photographs
- optional contractor client, job or quote reference and work description
This can include commercially sensitive information about land you own, manage or work on, so treat exported files and backups accordingly.
App settings
AcreTrace stores settings such as your chosen units, marker and exclusion names, category preferences and backup status on the device.
These settings are not sent to AcreTrace.
Official RPA boundary records
If you import English RPA parcels, AcreTrace stores the selected geometry and the provenance needed to identify and refresh it: the RPA feature, sheet and parcel identifiers, validity date, import time, official area and perimeter, geometry fingerprint, source system and licence acceptance record.
The raw SBI is not stored. A one-way fingerprint is kept locally so a later user-started refresh can compare parcels belonging to the same business without retaining the SBI itself.
Imported boundary files
If you choose a KML, KMZ, GeoJSON or JSON file, AcreTrace reads it on the device and stores only the selected geometry and the local provenance needed to understand it, including the source filename, format, import time and geometry fingerprint.
The original file is not uploaded to AcreTrace or copied into AcreTrace app storage.
Permissions
AcreTrace may ask Android for access to:
- Location
Used while measuring or while live location guidance is active. - Photographs
Used when you choose a photograph to attach to a marker. - Documents
Used through Android's file picker when you import a boundary file or create or restore an export, report or backup. - Internet
Used for a user-started official-boundary request sent directly to Defra and, if enabled, OS map-tile requests sent directly to Ordnance Survey. Normal measurement, saved records, reports and exports remain local.
AcreTrace does not request background location access.
Boundary files and optional OS mapping
KML, KMZ and GeoJSON import happens on the Android device. AcreTrace does not send the selected file or imported boundary to an AcreTrace server.
If you turn on OS OpenData background map in Settings, the app requests raster tiles directly from the OS Maps API over HTTPS. The request necessarily identifies the map tiles needed for the visible area to Ordnance Survey. AcreTrace does not proxy, analyse or log those requests.
The OS project key is sent in an HTTPS request header rather than placed in the request URL. Ordnance Survey's terms and privacy information apply to the OS API request.
The OS background is optional, online-only and is not copied into AcreTrace PDF reports. Turning it off returns every field screen to the local AcreTrace map.
Official boundary requests to Defra
The import wizard asks for a nine-digit Single Business Identifier (SBI), whether you are acting as a farmer or employee or as an agent, and explicit acceptance of the displayed RPA data licence requirements.
The Android app requests GeoJSON directly from the Defra RPA Land Parcels service over HTTPS. No AcreTrace proxy, account, analytics service or application server receives the SBI or boundary response.
The raw SBI exists in app memory only for the request and is then discarded. AcreTrace does not put it in ordinary exports, backups or application logs, and does not log the full request URL.
For agents, the wizard links to Defra so the agent can complete Defra's own acceptance and organisation-detail requirements. Defra's terms and privacy information apply to its service.
Refreshing shows added, changed, unchanged and removed parcels. It does not silently replace or delete an official baseline, local edit or surveyed boundary.
How long information stays on the phone
AcreTrace records remain in the app until you delete them, clear the application's data or uninstall AcreTrace.
Marker photographs held by AcreTrace are removed when the associated records are deleted.
Files that you have exported or backed up exist outside AcreTrace and must be deleted separately from wherever you chose to save them.
Android automatic application backup is disabled so AcreTrace field data is not silently transferred by the application.
Children
AcreTrace is a field-work utility intended for adults and is not designed or marketed for children.
Contact and policy changes
The planned public support address is:
The mailbox and legal publisher details will be verified before the public Google Play release.
If this policy changes materially, the updated policy will be dated and published here before or alongside the relevant AcreTrace update.